Studying problems doesn't solve problems

By John Florez
Published: Monday, Jan. 23, 2006 9:30 a.m. MST
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The recent craze over collecting data by state agencies reminds me of the old cockroach commercial about the Roach Motel, "Roaches check in, but they don't check out." Agencies pride themselves on collecting lots of data that go to the main office but never check out. Yet, some of our elected officials are being led to believe more "data collection" is needed to help minorities.

Our state leaders should be commended for seeking ways to improve the lives of minorities. As they do so, it would be well for them to consider solutions that, at the same time, promote the public good. All too often, public policies aimed at helping minorities are viewed in isolation, and as a burden, rather than part of our state's human capital waiting to be cultivated. The state's tax dollars would be better spent on innovative solutions, not data collection that never checks out.

If we are to be a thriving society, we cannot afford to let a significant and growing portion of our people languish in poverty, as is the case with all too many minorities. We have the greatest and the youngest untapped talent sitting in today's classrooms and in young adults seeking ways to improve their education. The challenge for elected leaders is to find ways to focus resources on educating and training that pool of talent that can help the state's ability to compete in the global marketplace.

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For too long, lawmakers and some professionals have invested resources on the back end by providing support services and launching on endless data collection aimed at studying weaknesses within the minority population, rather than looking at the strengths within it. Unfortunately, state leaders are limiting themselves to being "educated" as to how best to help minorities by professionals who are offering the same solutions — more studies — and the new fad, data collection. Professionals offering such solutions from their own view of the world are compounding the problem by diverting attention from those minorities in greatest need.

For example, the State's Office of Ethnic Affairs has made the tracking of women-minority businesses its "top 2006 legislative priority." Should not the priority be on those in greatest need, like minority children's education and their parents trying to find a job? Legislation is being proposed to make the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the criminal and juvenile justice system a permanent state entity. Its only purpose is to study the problem and make more recommendations. What's there to study? Who needs it? We already know there is a high rate of incarceration of minority youths and adults in the system. Instead, let's put resources on prevention, on such things as education, and job training. One would think the state's Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, charged with the oversight and monitoring of matters related to crime, would already be collecting those data in order to recommend solutions. If the Department of Workforce Services is supposed to help people find jobs and has a nationally recognized data bank, how come they don't know the unemployment rate of minority adults and youths? Seems like basic stuff to know if you are supposed to help people get jobs.

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